ID please

I really should know the ID on this... was feeding with some yellow legs and black bellied plover. Thanks in advance

One of the dowitchers. I'm not competent to make the call between long-billed and short-billed. I'd appreciate some education on that distinction from others.

Dowitcher for sure. I believe it's a long-billed, with the Sibley guide as a reference. If you want to photograph and ID birds, the Sibley guide is key.

Definitely a dowitcher

Thanks to all

A dowitcher, but hard to be certain between long- and short-billed with most of the bill concealed. If the photo was in salt water, I'd be more inclined to short-billed. Did you hear a call? When the bill was exposed, how long was it in relation to the head?

This is a difficult call to make in general. I am somewhat uncertain from this photo, but I'll run down the general rationale for identifying Short-billed versus Long-billed Dowitchers and tell you why I think what I think. Then, I'll want to know if you have a higher-res version (to make sure I'm wrong!)

1) SHAPE: Female Long-billed Dowitchers have very long bills relative to their body size, while male Short-billed Dowitchers have very short bills. This is best assessed when you can see both or have seen both numerous times. Size is always relative! In all plumages and all ages (with the exception of fledglings) Long-billed Dowitcher has short or no primary extension, meaning that the tertials go to the ends of the primaries. Long-billed also show little wing projection of the primaries beyond the end of the tail. Short-billeds generally show some primary extension and wing projection. Many people say Long-billed appear 'hump-backed' and while I generally agree this is highly contingent upon the bird's position.

2) SPRING PLUMAGE: Breast of breeding-plumage Long-billed is barred, Short-billed is spotted. This isn't too hard to see or distinguish in good light. Done.

3) FALL PLUMAGE(S): First, alternate plumaged adults pre-molt or molting into basic plumage. Short-billed Dowitchers retain their spots. Long-billed Dowitchers are usually smooth red underneath because the bars wear off faster than the spots of Short-billed. Second, basic plumage adults. Sucks, really, because you've basically got variation in shape and voice to go on. People often BS their way through IDing basic plumage birds. Third, juveniles. Juvenile Short-billed have richly patterned fresh upperparts overall with an ornate tertial pattern. Juvenile Long-billed have richly patterned fresh upperparts with a boring tertial pattern. Great way to tell the two apart. BUT - PAY ATTENTION - adults of both species have barred tertials in alternate plumage. So try to age it first before using this mark.

I hope this helps. I'm attaching an edit of your photo to illustrate some of these things. Sorry about the 'font' I used.

I *think* those tertials are barred (adult) and *think* that there is still some spots on the breast (Short-billed). The bird looks somewhat worn to me (fall adult). I also *think* the tertials are short and the primaries are long (also Short-billed). I think this is a fall adult Short-billed Dowitcher.

It must be Friday.

Here's my photo comments.

One additional cue to add to Dan's very nice summary: if you extend a line from the top of the bill towards the eye and it meets the bottom of the eye, you probably have a short-billed; if that imaginary line meets the middle of the eye, it's probably a long-billed. It's called the loral angle or something like that, and it's especially useful in photos. In the field, not so much.

Well this certainly sparked more debate than I had expected! Thanks for all of the in-depth analysis. Hopefully these next 2 photos can solve the mystery. . . sorry about the poor quality, the crop is rather large and the dowitcher was not what I was focusing on at the time.

- Luke

And now for the bill length. . .

Thanks for the great tutorial, Dan, and the pointer about the bill/eye difference, Jim. That's very useful info. Now if I can just put it to use when I actually see these frenetic little bastards in the field.

Thanks for the two additional pictures Luke, and the point about the eye Jim - I'd still go with I *think* it was a Short-billed Dowitcher.